New Delhi:
In yet another ceasefire violation, Pakistani troops on Saturday engaged in heavy firing and mortar shelling on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. "The firing and mortar shelling from across the border started in Balakote and Mankote areas around 10 am, drawing a strong retaliation from the Indian Army," the officials said. Deputy Commissioner of Poonch Rahul Yadav said there was no report of any casualty in the Pakistani firing.
The Deputy Commissioner said the border residents have been advised to take necessary precautionary measures for their safety.
Earlier, two Pakistan’s soldiers were killed on September 10 in Jammu and Kashmir's Hajipur sector. The entire episode was captured on camera and the video of the incident surfaced online on Saturday. The video shows Pakistani soldiers waving white flag while retrieving the bodies. Tensions between India and Pakistan spiked after India abrogated provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution to withdraw Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcated it into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan.
Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) while confirming the incident said, "the soldier has been identified as Havaldar Nasir Hussain, who hailed from Narowal in Punjab. Havaldar Nasir Hussain had been serving the Pakistan Army for 16 years."
Last week, Pakistani army on Sunday targeted forward posts and villages in Jammu and Kashmir’s Rajouri district with heavy firing and shelling, violating ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC). The firing of small arms and shelling with mortars started in Sunderbani and Nowshera sectors, drawing strong and befitting retaliation by the Indian army guarding the LoC.
On September 1, an army personnel was killed when Pakistani army targeted forward posts and villages in Shahpur-Kerni sector, raising the death toll in ceasefire violations by Pakistan in the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri since July to eight—six soldiers and two civilians.
